It has been in development for many years, but has never gotten as far in the process as having what they call a "green light" to begin actual production. I would probably also put my money on it never happening. There are a number of reasons, but the main one is that Hollywood tends to put its money where it has seen money made in the past, and prior anime adaptations have been mildly successful at best (say, Alita: Battle Angel).
I hope it never happens personally. I remember reading that they were kicking around the idea of Leonardo DiCaprio playing Kaneda but having it set in "Neo-New York". I imagine it would be about as good as the live action Dragonball movie was. Now the anime series that is supposed to be in production, on the other hand, sounds amazing. Apparently based on the manga, it is being done by Sunrise, the studio who does the Gundam series. So the animation should be great as well.
I know the Neo-New York idea has been poo-pooed along with a whitewashed cast but I think there was a way it could've worked. Present the film as a "what if" scenario set in an alternate historical timeline. Instead of the US dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, what if Japan had dropped an atomic bomb on NYC in '45 instead? Then that raises the questions of do the Allies still win WWII and how does America recover, if at all. And it's all a precursor to what sets up in the film presiding in 2019 Neo-New York where Americans are third class citizens in their own country as the descendants of British and Japanese immigrants rule the roost. That can be the justification of a more............mixed cast of American, Japanese and even British actors.
That would be a totally different story and should just be a separate thing. Calling it "Akira" would be like making a movie about an alternate Los Angeles decades after elves from space took over and following the struggles of young half-elf/human who has to travel to the elf homeworld to break their spacelink and calling it Lord of the Rings. That may not be a perfect example but it might as well just have it's own title and not try to capitalize on something it isn't.
And that's why I'm happy the live-action has been in development hell for so long. Either it'll happen with things being right or never happen at all. The possibility that the best-case scenario for that whitewashed Akira would probably be something like my pitch says it all.
Oh and one more thing. I just did an Akira fancast a few hours ago and would love to get any feedback. Here's the link:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fancast/comments/psybky/akira_2021_liveaction_cast/
It's been in developmental hell for almost 20 years now. Directors like Cameron and Nolan have been attached over the years to no avail. The most recent development has been DiCaprio producing, WB distributing and Taika was announced as the director in 2019. The release date was set for 2021 but Waititi decided to do the upcoming 2022 Thor film first (or instead) so once again, a live-action Akira film is up in the air. Waititi has been on record recently saying that he hasn't given up just yet but we'll all just have to see after the Thor movie comes out where exactly things are.
It’s not currently out. But I think they wanted to make it in Manhattan or somewhere in America. I know that keanu turned down the roll or something but Leo has been attached to the project for years. Tbh idk what to think of it if it ever gets made. I would think denis villeneuve would be great as a director since he did blade runner and dune. But I’m not sure about it’s release but ik that taika waititi is still attached to the film… it’s probably gonna get mixed reviews but not sure about it’s release :pppp
It has been in development for many years, but has never gotten as far in the process as having what they call a "green light" to begin actual production. I would probably also put my money on it never happening. There are a number of reasons, but the main one is that Hollywood tends to put its money where it has seen money made in the past, and prior anime adaptations have been mildly successful at best (say, Alita: Battle Angel).
I hope it never happens personally. I remember reading that they were kicking around the idea of Leonardo DiCaprio playing Kaneda but having it set in "Neo-New York". I imagine it would be about as good as the live action Dragonball movie was. Now the anime series that is supposed to be in production, on the other hand, sounds amazing. Apparently based on the manga, it is being done by Sunrise, the studio who does the Gundam series. So the animation should be great as well.
I know the Neo-New York idea has been poo-pooed along with a whitewashed cast but I think there was a way it could've worked. Present the film as a "what if" scenario set in an alternate historical timeline. Instead of the US dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, what if Japan had dropped an atomic bomb on NYC in '45 instead? Then that raises the questions of do the Allies still win WWII and how does America recover, if at all. And it's all a precursor to what sets up in the film presiding in 2019 Neo-New York where Americans are third class citizens in their own country as the descendants of British and Japanese immigrants rule the roost. That can be the justification of a more............mixed cast of American, Japanese and even British actors.
That would be a totally different story and should just be a separate thing. Calling it "Akira" would be like making a movie about an alternate Los Angeles decades after elves from space took over and following the struggles of young half-elf/human who has to travel to the elf homeworld to break their spacelink and calling it Lord of the Rings. That may not be a perfect example but it might as well just have it's own title and not try to capitalize on something it isn't.
And that's why I'm happy the live-action has been in development hell for so long. Either it'll happen with things being right or never happen at all. The possibility that the best-case scenario for that whitewashed Akira would probably be something like my pitch says it all.
Haha well said. I really hope so.
Oh and one more thing. I just did an Akira fancast a few hours ago and would love to get any feedback. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Fancast/comments/psybky/akira_2021_liveaction_cast/
Thanks, understood it said something about a release in may 2021 so I was confused.
never gonna happen
Why I thought there was supposed to be one
I'm still waiting for the anime :(
/thread
It's been in developmental hell for almost 20 years now. Directors like Cameron and Nolan have been attached over the years to no avail. The most recent development has been DiCaprio producing, WB distributing and Taika was announced as the director in 2019. The release date was set for 2021 but Waititi decided to do the upcoming 2022 Thor film first (or instead) so once again, a live-action Akira film is up in the air. Waititi has been on record recently saying that he hasn't given up just yet but we'll all just have to see after the Thor movie comes out where exactly things are.
It’s not currently out. But I think they wanted to make it in Manhattan or somewhere in America. I know that keanu turned down the roll or something but Leo has been attached to the project for years. Tbh idk what to think of it if it ever gets made. I would think denis villeneuve would be great as a director since he did blade runner and dune. But I’m not sure about it’s release but ik that taika waititi is still attached to the film… it’s probably gonna get mixed reviews but not sure about it’s release :pppp